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Top 7 NFL Running Backs Who Could Have Been Wide Receivers

by Jeremy Block - 1/31/2025

NFL running backs who could have been wide receivers Derrick Henry

The NFL is full of freak athletes who can do more than just one thing at a high level. Sure, running backs are supposed to run the ball. However, every once in a while, you come across one who could probably be a wide receiver. Some of these tailbacks come with a versatile skill set -- great hands, breakaway speed, route-running chops -- that you can’t help but think: what if they spent more time running patterns? 

You’re probably wondering, “Who exactly are we talking about here?” Well, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. These aren’t your typical running backs who occasionally catch a checkdown pass. Let’s take a look at the seven running backs whose talents could’ve made them elite wideouts in another life.

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1. DeAngelo Williams

Imagine a running back who could split wide, run crisp routes, and then, just for fun, drop a sick juke move to shake a cornerback like he’s back in the backfield. DeAngelo Williams was built for that kind of duality. Williams played in the NFL for 11 seasons, racking up 10,000+ yards and 77 total touchdowns, but his receiving stats really show the potential. He finished his career with 2,100+ receiving yards and 9 touchdowns through the air, despite being mostly used as a runner. 

Imagine a world where Williams spent more time in the slot, exploiting mismatches against linebackers or second-tier corners. If that’d happened, he could’ve been a nightmare for defenses everywhere.

2. LeSean McCoy

Some running backs are better at running routes than wide receivers, and LeSean McCoy was a perfect example. Shady McCoy’s ability to shift, juke, and accelerate would’ve made him a matchup nightmare for any cornerback tasked with covering him. Over his career, Shady accumulated 518 catches for more than 3,800 yards and 16 touchdowns. That’s not bad for a running back. However, when you watch his tape, you see run style screams “wide receiver.” His agility in the open field and his quick, precise cuts would’ve made him a lethal option out of the slot.

If McCoy ever played full-time as a receiver, defenses would’ve been forced to pick their poison -- try and stop him on the ground, or try and stop him from catching passes? Either way, good luck.

3. Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara has spent his career doing things that make people ask, “Wait, how does he do that?” From the moment he hit the NFL, Kamara became an offensive weapon that could line up anywhere and do damage. As a running back, he’s one of the best in the league with more than 6,000 rushing yards and 60 touchdowns. But where Kamara really shines is as a pass-catching back -- he’s racked up more than 500 receptions and 4,700 yards as a receiver, including a 2020 season where he caught 83 passes for 756 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Kamara has everything you look for in a wide receiver: great hands, insane agility, and a deep understanding of how to create separation in the open field. The Saints have been smart by using him in both the backfield and the slot. However, in a world where Kamara was primarily used as a wideout, his skillset would’ve made him a perennial All-Pro.

4. Reggie Bush

You remember Reggie Bush, right? The guy who made defenders look like traffic cones as he made plays all over the field. While he primarily made his mark in the backfield (more than 9,000 total yards and 58 touchdowns), Bush’s receiving ability was elite. He had 477 career receptions for 3,500+ yards and 18 touchdowns, proving that his game was about more than just being an explosive back.

Bush’s ability to make plays in the open field with his agility and speed would’ve made him a top-tier wideout -- no question about it. And if he wasn’t breaking ankles, he was burning defenses deep downfield.

5. Darren Sproles

When you’re only 5’6”, it’s easy to get overlooked, but Darren Sproles used that to his advantage, proving that you don’t have to be a giant to be one of the most dangerous players on the field. Known for his speed and low center of gravity, Sproles was a dual threat for most of his career, racking up more than 19,000 total yards and 64 touchdowns. But it’s his ability to catch passes out of the backfield that makes him an intriguing wide receiver prospect. With 553 career receptions and 4,840 receiving yards, Sproles consistently showed he could do more than just rush the ball.

Sproles didn’t just “catch” passes -- he turned them into major yardage. Whether he was lining up as a running back or a receiver, his quickness and ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces would have made him a nightmare to cover as a slot receiver. 

6. Chris Johnson

Chris “CJ2K” Johnson was faster than your Wi-Fi after a software update fast. But what a lot of people forget is that Johnson had a solid set of hands and the route-running ability to excel as a wide receiver. Over his career, Johnson caught 307 passes for 2,000+ yards and 9 touchdowns. 

Picture this: Johnson lined up in the slot, facing a cornerback who's already sweating because he knows he’s about to get burned. All it takes is a quick jab step, and boom, Johnson is gone. Johnson's ability to turn a simple screen pass into a 50-yard gain, or take a quick out route and burn the defense downfield, made you think about what could have been if he’d been used more as a wideout.

7. Derrick Henry

When you think of Derrick Henry, you think of a 6'2", 247-pound freight train who bulldozes defenders with terrifying speed and power. But while most of his game is built around running through and around people, Henry’s skill set actually translates quite well to being a wide receiver too. With over 11,000 rushing yards and 102 touchdowns, Henry has established himself as one of the most dominant backs of this era. But don’t let that huge frame fool you -- Henry is surprisingly nimble, and his ability to track the ball and make catches on the move is something defenses could dread if he was lined up at wide receiver.

Henry also has hands, catching 174 passes for nearly 1,651 yards and 5 touchdowns during his career. Imagine him on a quick slant, blowing past a linebacker with ease, or tracking down a deep ball in the open field. With his physicality and speed, Henry could be a nightmare matchup for any defender trying to cover him one-on-one. 

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